Islam, Muslim & Kafir

FAQ : How would you explain this terms: Islam, Muslims, & Kafir.

Answer : 

For those who asked, May Allah bless you.

There are many religion in this world and every each of them got their name. Some are named after a person (e.g. Christianity-Jesus Christ, Buddhism-Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, Confucianism-Confucius/Kung Fu Tse, etc). Some are named after a tribe (e.g. Judaism-tribe of Judah). Some are named after a geographical location (e.g. Hinduism-Indus River).

It is important to mention that, the name of these religions is not mentioned in the Scripture of the religion.

Islam was not named after any person, tribe or place. It was given by God (Himself) in the Quran:

"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you ISLAM as your religion" (Quran 5:3)

Islam is an Arabic word which is derived along with other Arabic words such as Salaam, Salim, and Aslama, from the same root word. Salaam means peace, harmony, tranquility, calm, and serenity. Salim means authentic, sound, accurate, and free from defects. Aslama means to willingly submit or obey by sincere and willing obedience to Almighty God.

Muslim means, anyone who truly and fully submits and obeys the one and only true God. Going by this definition, all the creatures are 'Muslim' by their obedient character. The heart is Muslim by their character to pump blood to all parts of our body. The brain is Muslim by their character to think and instruct our body to move and react in every situations. Just imagine how this two main organ in our body suddenly decided to disobey what has been ordained by its Creator, we will enter the state or Cardiogenic Shock and Brain Death respectively!.

Unlike other creations of God, we have been blessed by the faculty of intellect, and with it, the freewill to choose either to obey or disobey God. When we choose to obey God we are Muslim, and when we choose to disobey God, we are becoming Kafir. Merely claiming to believe in God does not necessarily qualify a person to be called a Muslim. One need to demonstrate his/her belief by obedience and acts of worship.

Islam was not founded by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 1400 years ago. Instead, Islam has been the religion since the creation of the first man and has always been the one and only religion preached by all the Prophets of God, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, and the final Prophet of God, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon them all).

"Say, we believe in Allah and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to other Prophets, from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit." (Quran 2:136)

"Abraham was not a Jew nor Christian, but an upright Muslim" (Quran 3:67)

"The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - that which We sent by inspiration to you - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus;namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein:to those who worship other than God, hard is the (way) to which you call them" (Quran 42:13)

Needless to say, all the Prophets of God were Muslim and the Religion they preached was Islam.